Fonds MS-340 - Burrill, Field Family fonds

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Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Burrill, Field Family fonds

General material designation

  • Textual record

Parallel title

Other title information

Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

  • Source of title proper: Title based on contents of fonds.

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

CA EDM MS-340

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

Statement of projection (cartographic)

Statement of coordinates (cartographic)

Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1885 - 1942 (Creation)
    Creator
    Burrill, Field Family

Physical description area

Physical description

50 cm textual records

Publisher's series area

Title proper of publisher's series

Parallel titles of publisher's series

Other title information of publisher's series

Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series

Numbering within publisher's series

Note on publisher's series

Archival description area

Name of creator

(1886-1980)

Biographical history

Burrill, Emerson Luther 1886-1951
Burrill, Myrtle Irene Field 1887-1980
Field, Violet Scipeo 1896-1975

Emerson L. Burrill was born 30 Aug 1886 in Burgessville, Oxford County, Ontario, to Rebecca Burkett and Charles Burrill. He was the youngest of twelve children.

He grew up in southern Ontario, including the Oxford County and Beamsville areas. Emerson became a commercial teacher and in 1917, enlisted in the Canadian military in Ottawa. He was made a Corporal (No. 2098948) and assigned to No. 3 A.M.C. Training Depot (CEF). Over the next two years he encountered medical problems and was sent to the Queen's Military Hospital in Kingston, Ontario. He did not serve overseas. Emerson was discharged from the military on 7 Nov 1919.

Emerson Burrill next headed to western Canada. He worked in Vancouver, as a chiropractor, from 1921 to about 1925. However, this was a time before the medical practice was regulated and anyone who worked in the health care field, but was not a M.D., called themselves a chiropractor.

By the 1930's, Emerson went to Alberta. In 1934 Emerson L. Burrill married Myrtle I. Field in Edmonton. Emerson worked as a clerk at the Hotel Macdonald, and later for the CNR. Given the amount of music sheets in the fonds that have his signature, it is assumed that he was very musical.

Emerson L. Burrill died 15 Sep 1951 in Edmonton.
*
Myrtle Irene Field was born 23 Nov 1887 to Lydia Jane (Jennie) Phillips and James William Field in Teeswater, Ontario. Myrtle had three siblings - Thomas Harold, Ethel Louella and Alfred. By 1916, the family was living in Edmonton, Alberta. Myrtle was working as a teacher.

In 1934, Myrtle Irene Field married Emerson L. Burrill, in Edmonton. Myrtle Field Burrill was the proprietress of Field's Pharmacy on Fort Road. Given the amount of music sheets in the fonds that have her signature and annotations, it is assumed that she was very musical.

Myrtle Irene Field Burrill died 22 May 1980 in Edmonton.
*
Violet Scipeo Field was born about 1896 in Bacup, Lancashire, England to Edith and Rev. Thomas Boulanger Field.

By the 1920's Violet was working in London, England as a secretary at the Chelsea Hospital for Women. In late 1924, Violet Scipeo Field married Dr. Thomas H. Field in Middlesex, England. In early 1925, Violet moved to Edmonton to be with her husband.

Dr. Thomas H. Field, brother of Myrtle Field (above), was a prominent Edmonton surgeon, and at one point, was the President of the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Thomas and Violet S. Field had two children, Yvonne and Derek.

Violet Field, now known primarily as the second alderwoman of Edmonton, was also known as one of Edmonton's leading club women, and a strong advocate for social and welfare reform. Her involvements included being President of the Women's Canadian Club and Victorian Order of Nurses, chair of the Northern Alberta Division of the Navy League and the Red Cross. She served on Edmonton City Council in 1952-1953, and served as acting mayor in the absence of Mayor Hawrelak in 1952. Violet S. Field was also an accomplished pianist.

Dr. Thomas H. Field died in 1950. Violet Scipeo Field died 17 Dec 1975. They are buried in the Edmonton Cemetery.

Custodial history

Much of the records belonged to Emerson Burrill and Myrtle Field Burrill before their marriage. It is assumed that once married, and certainly after Emerson's death in 1951, their records were combined.

It is suspected that Myrtle Field Burrill inherited the musical records of her sister-in-law, Violet S. Field, following Violet's death in 1975.

It is not known how Beatrice Dunn acquired the records following Myrtle Field Burrill's death in 1980.

Scope and content

The fonds consists of sheet music belonging to various members of the Burrill and Field famiilies, but mostly Emerson L. Burrill and his wife, Myrtle I. Field Burrill.

Most pieces are annotated with initials or signatures: E.L. Burrill, E.L.B., Myrtle Field, M.I Field, or M.I. Burrill. A few pieces, annotated Ethel L. Field, are assumed to belong to Myrtle's sister, Ethel Louella Field.

Other pieces have no initials, signatures or annotations. It is possible, perhaps likely, that these pieces belonged to Violet S. Field.

The music is mostly sacred and spiritual, but also includes popular and patriotic works.

Note: the annotation on some Burrill pieces appears as if it could be E.S. Burrill. However it is suspected to be a short-hand fancy script for E.L. Burrill. The handwriting is identical and there are no other Burrill family members with the initials 'E.S.'.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

This fonds was donated to the City of Edmonton Archives by Beatrice Dunn in 1980.

Arrangement

The material was arranged by the archivist by publisher, then by music genre.

Language of material

  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Italian

Script of material

    Location of originals

    Availability of other formats

    Restrictions on access

    There are no restrictions on access.

    Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

    Copyright may apply.

    Finding aids

    Finding aid available online.

    Associated materials

    Accruals

    No further accruals are expected.

    General note

    Accession number: A80-121

    General note

    Formerly known as Violet Sciepo fonds.

    Physical description

    Some of the records are fragile, crumbling, significant tears.

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Standard number

    Standard number

    Access points

    Subject access points

    Place access points

    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Control area

    Description record identifier

    Institution identifier

    City of Edmonton Archives

    Rules or conventions

    Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
    Archives Society of Alberta Subject Terms

    Status

    Final

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation, revision and deletion

    Language of description

      Script of description

        Sources

        Digital object (Master) rights area

        Digital object (Reference) rights area

        Digital object (Thumbnail) rights area

        Accession area